Hoka OneOne Speedgoat Review

PROS

Exceptional Traction

Cushioning

CONS

Tight fit in toe area

OUR VERDICT

The Hoka One One Speedgoat has outstanding grip and provides a soft comfortable ride but can get a little tight in the toe area . Be sure to remember that the fit may be off compared to your normal shoe size. I would suggest sizing up at least a half size if not a full size.

Hoka OneOne Speedgoat General Info

The Speedboat 50K is known as being a rough and rugged race. The shoe was designed with this race in mind, aiming to build a shoe that could handle the most technical of terrain.

Upon first glance I cannot help but notice the lugs on the outsole. They stand out and this shoe looks like it can grip. The shoe also looks like it will provide a lot of protection.

When I put them on for the first time I noticed a few things. There is an arch bump, more pronounced than any of the other Hoka’s I’ve run in.

The shoe feels great through the midfoot, but I did notice that it tapers quickly in the toe area causing my feet to feel crammed in the toe area.

It at first feels like the shoe may be too small. A couple taps of my heel on the ground and it feels a little better.

Hoka OneOne Speedgoat Sole Unit

Hoka OneOne Speedgoat – Sole

The midsole and outsole of this shoe are really good. The midsole consists of a thick layer of EVA foam that strikes a nice balance between being responsive and is able to absorb rocks and roots to protect your foot.

The cushioning is nice and thick so it keeps your feet comfortable over long distances. I found the cushioning to be spot on.

The outsole of this shoe is what sets it apart from others. It has 5mm lugs (Hoka advertises both 4 mm and 5 mm on their website) in an aggressive pattern composed of Vibram rubber.

Vibram rubber is high quality and it is nice to see it incorporated into this shoe. This rubber is durable and grips like a beast. I have not tested this shoe on snow but in all other conditions it had exceptional traction.

It has just as good traction on wet, muddy trails as it does on dry, dusty trails.

When you plant your foot in this shoe it digs in and holds on to the point where you actually notice that your able to generate more torque, especially when running uphill.

I don’t experience this sensation in many of the trail shoes I run in. I really cannot say enough good things about the outsole of this shoe.

Hoka OneOne Speedgoat Upper Info

Hoka OneOne Speedgoat – Medial Side

The Speedgoat has an upper made of high quality mesh materials with welded overlays and underlays. It is both breathable and durable. It also has a reinforced rubber toe guard to protect your toes from rocks and roots.

My first few runs in the shoe were in torrential downpours and the upper drained really well for me. Additionally it seems to be fairly durable. After over 50 miles I see no real signs of wear and tear on the upper.

As mentioned preciously, this shoe does have more of a pronounced arch bump than other Hoka’s I have run in. This is still pretty subtle but is enough to provide a little bit of arch support.

This upper has a unique fit. For the most part it is very comfortable but it does feel a little too narrow in the toe area. What’s interesting is the upper is actually a little wider through the midfoot and even part of the forefoot.

It then quickly tapers at the toe area which makes it a little uncomfortable for your toes. I was able to make this upper work for me by really tapping my heel on the ground multiple times, pushing my foot back into the shoe before tying.

If I didn’t do that I had issues with my toes getting pushed up agains the front of the shoe.

Despite the toe issues, when the shoe was properly secured on my foot with my heel pushed way back, I actually enjoyed running in the shoe.

It was just too easy for my foot to come forward while running in the shoe especially on trails. I really do think that if I had gone a full size up from my normal shoe size the problem would have been solved.

Hoka OneOne Speedgoat Conclusions

Over the past few weeks I’ve had a real love/ hate relationship with this shoe. The grip it provides on the trail is probably the best I have experienced in a trail shoe.

Additionally I found the cushioning to be just about perfect for what I want in a trail shoe that I’m going to run long distances in.

I experienced moments of running in this shoe where I thought it was the best trail shoe I’ve ever run in, yet I also experienced moments where my toes were getting crammed and were experiencing some rubbing.

The outsole and midsole are so good in this shoe that I heavily debated on wearing it for a recent 50k and just dealing with the blisters I would surely get.

Unfortunately I had to go with a different trail shoe in order to preserve my feet for another upcoming race, but I would have loved to have had the traction and cushioning of the Speedgoat.

I cannot help but wonder how I’d feel about this shoe if I had run in a size 11 instead of a size 10. I really do think if I had gone a full size up that this shoe would have been outstanding.

I think this shoe could be a really great option for some people. I would suggest ordering a full size up and trying them on to make sure the fit is correct.

We thank the nice people at Hoka OneOne for sending us a pair of Speedgoat to test. This did not influence the outcome of the review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.

Sean is a long distance runner that lives in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania with his wife and 1 year old daughter. When not chasing his daughter around the house he can be found running on the Appalachian trail, local state forest trail systems, and the rolling hills of Cumberland Valley.

User reviews

5

4

Mark

Seems like the same ole song and dance with Hoka. A lot of us have a love/hate relationship with their shoes. I love the cushioning and the responsiveness of their cushioning. I hate that ever model I’ve tried (Bondi, Stenson, Clifton), have all fit too tight. People have complained to them about it, but they don’t seem to be listening. I’ve stop buying them so I can have an upper that fits right, even if it means losing that outstanding cushioning. Sure wish they could pair a fantastic upper with their fantastic sole. I’m sure their sales would increase that much more.

Had exact same issue today – rubbed the top of my little toes raw on first outing :-< Have got some ziplock bags and am trying to stretch them by freezing the water I've just poured into them over night!!!!

Brilliant with everything else but if this doesn't fix them – they'll be back in the shop!!!!

I average 30+ hrs a month of trail running and haven’t had a blister in ten years. I purposely go up a full size to avoid issues with toe nails in particular. First run with the Speedgoat today, mountain trail but only a little over 10k. HUGE blister on top of my left little toe and redness on the right! Insult to injury, the red dye from the uppers ran and ruined my socks. At this price point, I am extremely disappointed in Hoka.

Just bought my first pair of speedgoat and love the shoe, but the shoe feel somehow very tight on the right foot, I got a blister straight away and like you I cannot decide if this is the shoe I should go for in a long distance run. And I wear 2 size bigger than usual. My friend experienced the same thing.

Ditto. I never blister usually but the speedgoat got me on second use. Had them over six months and still blister. By taping my little toe and arch I can stop them blistering. Also holes appearing on side and grip not good. The cushioning I’d give 10/10 but fit is poor and I wouldn’t buy them again.